Round Texel and Texel Dutch Open named official Class F18 events

by Willeke Aapkes on 12 Jun 2014 On Saturday 28th June 2014, the 37th edition of the legendary Round Texel is scheduled to commence. The Round Texel, also known as ‘the Biggest Cat Race in the World’, is the highlight of a festive week of sailing from 25th – 28th June on the beach at Paal 17.

The Dutch F18 class organisation, together with the board of the Round Texel Race, has decided to classify both the Texel Dutch Open as well as the 37th Round Texel as an official F18 class event. Both events now count towards the Dutch F18 Championship 2014.

F18-sailors, as well as other cats, who would like to join both class events, can register online here.

The Texel Dutch Open for catamarans is taking place between Wednesday 25th and Friday 27th. Numerous races have been planned during these three days after which, based on the Texel Rating, two Dutch champions will be crowned. This particular Dutch Open will be sailed in two open catamaran classes: Open Class I (TR <105) and Open Class II (TR> 105).

The 37th edition of the Round Texel has been expanded with the Open Dutch Championship Marathon Windsurfing. The windsurfers will follow the same course as the catamarans: circumnavigating the Dutch isle of Texel. Entry is open to surfers 15 years and older who have a registered slalom, formula or race board. The qualifiers will be held on Friday 27th June, and on Saturday the 50 best windsurfers from the qualifying round will compete for the title.

The Dutch National Youth Squad Windsurfing will participate in the Open Dutch Championship Marathon Windsurfing. This Dutch Talent Team (under 18’s) consists of five boys and one girl, who will be using the ‘Round’ as a warm-up for the World Championship Big Techno in Brest (France).

Optimist on Tour is an event which aims to introduce children to the sport of sailing. For the event a gigantic basin has been dug right on the ‘Round Texel’ beach by Paal 17, where children aged 7-13 years (with swimming diploma A) can try their hand at sailing or canoeing, in real boats, right on the beach. Back on dry land there will be educational activities for the children, all based around water sports: learning to tie knots, doing experiments in the water-lab and a sailing game. You can register via the website or on the beach itself, as long as there are places available.

From Thursday 26th until Saturday 28th June, subject to sufficient wind, Extreme Kitesurfing Demonstrations will be held in cooperation with the Texel Kitesurfing Association.

Registration is still possible for both the Dutch Open Championships as well as for the 'Round' itself, either online here or in the Regatta office on the beach by Paal 17.